Nearly four decades after Tom Cruise first raced onto the big screen as Cole Trickle, Days of Thunder is officially coming back.
Tom Cruise will reprise his role in a new Days of Thunder movie, with Anne Hathaway joining him as a new co-star.
Paramount Pictures has set the movie’s theatrical release for June 2, 2028. The project was announced around NASCAR’s race weekend at Daytona International Speedway, bringing the franchise back to the racing world that inspired the 1990 original.
But the announcement has already created another big question among fans:
What about Nicole Kidman?
Here’s everything currently confirmed about the new Days of Thunder, including its release date, cast, Anne Hathaway’s role and the controversy surrounding the sequel.
Is Days of Thunder 2 Really Happening?
Yes.
Tom Cruise and Paramount have officially announced the return of Days of Thunder.
Cruise will once again play Cole Trickle, the NASCAR driver he portrayed in the original 1990 movie.
The sequel arrives nearly 38 years after the original film and follows Cruise’s hugely successful return to another classic role in Top Gun: Maverick.
The official title may ultimately change, so although the project is widely being called Days of Thunder 2, it is safer for now to think of it as the new Days of Thunder movie.
When Is Days of Thunder 2 Coming Out?
The release date is:
June 2, 2028
Paramount has scheduled the film for a theatrical release, with IMAX presentation also planned.
That gives the production plenty of time to bring NASCAR racing back to the big screen on a large scale.
Who Is in the Days of Thunder 2 Cast?
Two major stars are currently at the center of the announcement.
Tom Cruise — Cole Trickle
Tom Cruise returns as Cole Trickle, the talented and fiercely competitive racing driver from the original movie.
The 1990 film followed Trickle as he entered the high-pressure world of NASCAR, survived a major crash and fought his way back to racing.
Paramount’s official page for the original movie lists Cruise as Cole Trickle alongside Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid, Michael Rooker and other members of the original cast.
Anne Hathaway — Team Owner and Engineer
Anne Hathaway is the biggest new addition.
She is set to play a NASCAR team owner and engineer, rather than simply replacing Nicole Kidman’s original character.
It will also mark the first time Cruise and Hathaway have starred together in a movie.
Is Nicole Kidman Returning to Days of Thunder 2?
This is one of the biggest questions surrounding the sequel.
Nicole Kidman starred in the original Days of Thunder as Dr. Claire Lewicki, who became Cole Trickle’s love interest.
However, Nicole Kidman has not been announced as part of the new movie’s cast.
That doesn’t necessarily mean she won’t appear. It simply means her return has not been confirmed at this point.
Until Paramount or the filmmakers announce additional casting, claims that Kidman is returning should be treated as speculation.
Why Is Anne Hathaway’s Casting Already Controversial?
The sequel announcement quickly generated controversy because Randy Quaid, who played team owner Tim Daland in the original movie, publicly criticized Hathaway’s casting.
Quaid argued that Nicole Kidman should return instead and attacked the decision to cast Hathaway.
However, there is an important distinction.
Anne Hathaway is not currently announced as a replacement for Nicole Kidman’s Claire Lewicki.
Hathaway is playing a new character — a racing team owner and engineer.
And Quaid’s criticism represents his personal opinion, not an announcement from Paramount or the filmmakers.
Is Randy Quaid Returning?
Randy Quaid played Tim Daland, the team owner who recruited Cole Trickle in the original movie.
As of now, Quaid has not been confirmed to return for the sequel.
That leaves several original-cast questions unanswered.
Fans may also wonder whether actors such as Michael Rooker, Cary Elwes or John C. Reilly could return, but no such appearances should be considered confirmed unless officially announced.
Who Is Directing Days of Thunder 2?
The new movie will be directed by Jonathan Levine, with a screenplay by Will Staples.
Tom Cruise is producing alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
Bruckheimer’s involvement is particularly notable because he also produced the original Days of Thunder.
The original movie was directed by Tony Scott, who died in 2012.
What Will Days of Thunder 2 Be About?
The complete plot has not yet been revealed.
What we know is that Cruise returns as Cole Trickle while Hathaway enters the racing world as a team owner and engineer.
The announcement was tied closely to Daytona and NASCAR, signaling that the racing culture central to the original film will again play a major role.
One of the biggest mysteries is what Cole Trickle’s life looks like almost four decades after audiences first met him.
Will he still race?
Will he become a mentor?
How will Hathaway’s character fit into his story?
Those answers haven’t been revealed yet.
What Happened in the Original Days of Thunder?
Released in 1990, the original Days of Thunder starred Cruise as ambitious driver Cole Trickle.
He enters NASCAR with enormous talent but has to learn how to control both the car and his own aggressive personality.
After a serious racing accident, Trickle’s relationship with Dr. Claire Lewicki — played by Nicole Kidman — becomes an important part of his recovery and eventual return to racing.
The original cast included:
Tom Cruise — Cole Trickle
Nicole Kidman — Dr. Claire Lewicki
Robert Duvall — Harry Hogge
Randy Quaid — Tim Daland
Michael Rooker — Rowdy Burns
Cary Elwes — Russ Wheeler
John C. Reilly — Buck Bretherton
Could Days of Thunder 2 Become the Next Top Gun: Maverick?
That’s inevitably going to be one of the comparisons surrounding the movie.
Top Gun: Maverick demonstrated that Cruise could successfully return to a famous character decades later while attracting both longtime fans and a new generation.
Now Days of Thunder is getting its own legacy follow-up.
But whether Cole Trickle can repeat Maverick’s extraordinary comeback remains to be seen.
The combination of Tom Cruise, NASCAR, Anne Hathaway, IMAX and Jerry Bruckheimer certainly gives the project plenty of attention before filming is even complete.
Days of Thunder 2: What We Know So Far
Here are the key details currently confirmed:
Release date: June 2, 2028
Tom Cruise: Returning as Cole Trickle
Anne Hathaway: Joining as a NASCAR team owner and engineer
Director: Jonathan Levine
Writer: Will Staples
Producers: Tom Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper
Nicole Kidman: Not currently confirmed
Randy Quaid: Not currently confirmed
Plot: Not yet fully revealed
Final Thoughts
After nearly four decades, Cole Trickle is heading back to the world of NASCAR.
Tom Cruise’s return alone would have made Days of Thunder a major Hollywood story, but the addition of Anne Hathaway — and the immediate debate about Nicole Kidman — has created even more interest around the project.
For now, one thing is certain:
Days of Thunder returns to theaters on June 2, 2028.
The next things to watch will be the full cast announcement, the start of production, the first trailer and — perhaps most intriguingly — whether any more familiar faces from the 1990 original will return.
🎬 Watch: Days of Thunder 2 in 60 Seconds
Tom Cruise is returning as Cole Trickle, and Anne Hathaway is joining the new Days of Thunder movie.
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Days of Thunder returns to theaters on June 2, 2028. Follow True Taste Korea for more trending entertainment and movie updates.